A renowned German trombonist, celebrated for his innovative and avant-garde approach to jazz and improvisational music, pushing the boundaries of traditional trombone playing.
Conny Bauer, born on July 4, 1943, is a German free jazz trombonist renowned for his bold and innovative approach to the instrument. With a career spanning over five decades, he has established himself as a prominent figure in European free jazz, inspiring generations of musicians with his unique sound and versatility.
Bauer's fascination with modern music began during his high school days in Sonneberg, where he was introduced to genres such as swing, boogie-woogie, blues, and rock 'n' roll. He taught himself to play the guitar and piano, and soon became known as "Conny" among his friends.
After completing his studies, Bauer enrolled in the Carl Maria von Weber Music School Conservatory in Dresden, where he studied modern dance music from 1964 to 1968. Initially, he intended to become a guitarist, but due to the high demand for guitar students, he was redirected to the trombone class, where he discovered his true calling.
In 1968, Bauer left the conservatory to hone his skills with private lessons in Berlin. During this period, he also began his career as a guitarist and singer in the band of Ernst Ludwig Petrowsky, a prominent German jazz saxophonist and composer.
The 1970s marked a significant turning point in Bauer's career, as he emerged as a prominent trombone soloist in European free jazz. He co-founded several influential groups, including FEZ and its subsequent quartet and trio formations, the Doppelmoppel quartet, and Synopsis-Zentralquartett with Ernst Ludwig Petrowsky, Ulrich Gumpert, and Günter "Baby" Sommer.
Bauer's talent soon transcended borders, as he collaborated with renowned musicians such as Tadashi Endo, Sheryl Banks, Tony Oxley, Derek Bailey, Maggie Nicols, Theo Jörgensmann, Peter Brötzmann, Barre Phillips, Peter Kowald, Han Bennink, Barry Altschul, Jay Oliver, Louis Moholo, Gerry Hemingway, and George E. Lewis.
In 1986, Bauer embarked on a several-week-long tour of Japan, where he engaged with numerous Japanese musicians. His stature as a jazz virtuoso was further solidified when he directed the National Jazz Orchestra of the former East Germany from 1988 to 1989.
Throughout his illustrious career, Conny Bauer has made significant contributions to the development of jazz in East Germany and beyond. His fearless approach to improvisation, coupled with his technical mastery of the trombone, has inspired a generation of musicians and cemented his status as a true pioneer in European free jazz.
97 Years Old
A virtuosic trombonist and educator, renowned for his innovative, avant-garde style that blended jazz with classical and folk elements, inspiring generations of musicians.
